Police probe horror Croydon house fire that left three Polish men dead and two others injured - as detectives investigate cause of blaze

Forensics teams today seen investigating terrace house on Sanderstead Road

Police are investigating the cause of a house fire in Croydon that left three Polish men dead and two others injured.

Emergency services rushed to the two-storey, end-of-terrace house on Sanderstead Road just after 11pm on Friday, where two men, one of whom is thought to have been in his 40s, were declared dead. 

A third man, in his 30s, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died on Saturday afternoon.

Two other men took themselves to hospital. One has been discharged, but the other, thought to be in his 30s, is suffering life-threatening injuries.

The London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police detectives are now investigating the cause of the horrific blaze, with forensics teams today pictured investigating the property for any evidence.

The Met added that it has made ‘significant progress’ in confirming the identities of the men, who are all believed to be Polish.

Police are investigating the cause of a house fire in Croydon that left three Polish men dead and two others injured

Forensics teams have today been looking over the two-storey house on Sanderstead Road, where two men, one of whom is thought to have been in his 40s, were declared dead.

The London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police detectives are investigating the cause of the horrific blaze, which remains a mystery

The blaze was spotted by concerned neighbours who alerted the authorities after noticing a fire erupting from a boarded-up building.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by LFB and police. The Met’s enquiries are led by detectives from the Met’s South Area CID.

Emergency services performed CPR and chest compressions in a desperate attempt to save the lives of those caught up in the fire.

Chief Inspector Imran Asghar, of the Metropolitan Police, said: ‘This is an extremely sad incident, which has led to the deaths of three men, while a fourth man remains in hospital in a critical condition.

‘My colleagues have made significant progress towards confirming the identities of the men and providing support to their families.

‘This process is ongoing. At this stage, I understand that the three men who have died were Polish nationals, as are the other two men who attended hospital.

‘Inquiries by specialist police and fire investigators are under way to establish the cause of the fire.’

A spokesperson for the Met Police previously said: ‘Police were called by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) at 22:48hrs on Friday, 29 December to a house fire in Sanderstead Road, South Croydon.

The blaze was spotted by concerned neighbours on Sanderstead Road who alerted the authorities after noticing a fire erupting from a boarded-up building

A forensic officer, pictured on Sunday, walks past the house on Sanderstead Road where a huge blaze erupted on Friday night

Fire crews are still at the scene, with two fire engines seen parked up inside a police cordon

A lone police car was also seen parked in the middle of the road on Sunday

A yellow and white tent has been erected on Sanderstead Road as police a fire crews probe the cause of the huge blaze

An aerial view of Sanderstead Road, where a fire broke at a two-storey, end-of-terrace house

‘Officers attended along with LFB and the London Ambulance Service.

‘Two men – no further details – were sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Officers are working to inform their next of kin.

‘A third man was taken to hospital where he remains in a life-threatening condition.

‘A fourth and fifth man later self-presented at hospital. One of the men is in a life-threatening condition and the other has since been discharged.

‘The cause of the fire is under investigation by LFB and police.’

Anyone with information is requested to call police on 101 quoting reference number 7129/29DEC23